Encapsulated valve system

Abstract

An encapsulated valve system includes a first housing portion having a first facing surface, the first facing surface comprising a plurality of branch pathways formed as a recess within the first facing surface. The valve system further includes a second housing portion having a second facing surface, the second facing surface comprising a plurality of branch pathways formed as a recess within the second facing surface. A disposable conduit is configured to be interposed between the first and second housing portions and disposed within the recess of the first facing surface and the recess of the second facing surface. The disposable conduit is thus sandwiched between the first and second facing surfaces. A plurality of pinch valve actuators are mounted on one or both of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the plurality of pinch valve actuators configured to pinch the disposable conduit at selective branch pathways.

1. An encapsulated valve system for pressurized fluids comprising:
 a first metal housing portion having a first facing surface, the first facing surface comprising a plurality of branch pathways formed as a recess within the first facing surface, wherein one of the plurality of branch pathways comprises a first aperture, the first metal housing portion further comprising one or more first half flange fittings; 
 a second metal housing portion having a second facing surface, the second facing surface comprising a plurality of branch pathways formed as a recess within the second facing surface, wherein one of the plurality of branch pathways comprises a second aperture, the second metal housing portion further comprising one or more corresponding second half flange fittings configured to mate with the first half flange fittings; 
 a disposable conduit comprising unreinforced polymer configured to be interposed between the first and second housing portions and disposed within the recess of the first facing surface and the recess of the second facing surface, the disposable conduit configured to carry a pressurized fluid therein; and 
 a first automatically-controlled pinch valve actuator mounted on the first housing portion, a second automatically-controlled pinch valve actuator mounted on the second housing portion, wherein the first automatically-controlled pinch valve actuator is disposed on the first metal housing portion and oriented generally perpendicular to the first facing surface and comprises a pinching element configured to pass through the first aperture and wherein the second automatically-controlled pinch valve actuator is disposed on the second metal housing portion and oriented generally perpendicular to the second facing surface and comprises a pinching element configured to pass through the second aperture, the first and second automatically-controlled pinch valve actuators configured to pinch and close the disposable conduit at selective, different branch pathways. 
 
     
     
       2. The encapsulated valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of branch pathways comprises at least one inlet and a plurality of outlets. 
     
     
       3. The encapsulated valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of branch pathways comprises at least one outlet and a plurality of inlets. 
     
     
       4. The encapsulated valve system of  claim 1 , the disposable conduit comprising a plurality of gaskets disposed at ends thereof, the plurality of gaskets configured to fit with respective flange fittings. 
     
     
       5. The encapsulated valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pinch valve actuators comprise pneumatically-controlled actuators. 
     
     
       6. The encapsulated valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the disposable conduit comprises silicone tubing. 
     
     
       7. The encapsulated valve system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of fasteners configured hold the first housing portion against the second housing portion, wherein the fasteners are removable. 
     
     
       8. An encapsulated valve system for pressurized fluids comprising:
 a first metal housing portion having a first facing surface, the first facing surface comprising a plurality of branch pathways formed as a recess within the first facing surface, wherein one of the plurality of branch pathways comprises a first aperture; 
 a second metal housing portion having a second facing surface, the second facing surface comprising a plurality of branch pathways formed as a recess within the second facing surface, wherein one of the plurality of branch pathways comprises a second aperture; 
 a disposable conduit comprising unreinforced polymer configured to be interposed between the first and second housing portions and disposed within the recess of the first facing surface and the recess of the second facing surface, the disposable conduit configured to carry a pressurized fluid therein; 
 a first automatically-controlled pinch valve actuator mounted on the first housing portion, a second automatically-controlled pinch valve actuator mounted on the second housing portion, wherein the first automatically-controlled pinch valve actuator is disposed on the first metal housing portion and oriented generally perpendicular to the first facing surface and comprises a pinching element configured to pass through the first aperture and wherein the second automatically-controlled pinch valve actuator is disposed on the second metal housing portion and oriented generally perpendicular to the second facing surface and comprises a pinching element configured to pass through the second aperture, the first and second automatically-controlled pinch valve actuators configured to pinch and close the disposable conduit at selective, different branch pathways; 
 wherein the plurality of branch pathways comprise a first pathway extending across the first facing surface and the second facing surface, a second pathway extending across the first facing surface and the second facing surface, and a third pathway bridging between the first and second pathways; and 
 wherein the first automatically-controlled pinch valve actuator is configured to pinch the disposable conduit located within the first pathway. 
 
     
     
       9. The encapsulated valve system of  claim 8 , wherein the second automatically-controlled pinch valve actuator is configured to pinch the disposable conduit located within the second pathway. 
     
     
       10. The encapsulated valve system of  claim 9 , wherein a third automatically-controlled pinch valve actuator is mounted on one of the first housing portion or the second housing portion, the third pinch valve actuator comprising a pinching element configured to pass through an aperture located within the third pathway. 
     
     
       11. The encapsulated valve system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one automatically-controlled pinch valve actuator disposed along a seam created between the first and second facing surfaces. 
     
     
       12. The encapsulated valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second automatically-controlled pinch valve actuators comprise at least one of a pneumatic-based, solenoid-based, stepper motor-based, servo motor-based actuator.